China's EV Battery Installations Grow Modestly in H1 2026, with LFP Dominating Over 80% and NMC Concentration Rising

From January to June 2026, China's power battery installation volume experienced moderate growth. Installations of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries reached 276.6 GWh, accounting for 80.7% of the total, up 13.4% year-over-year. Ternary battery installations amounted to 66.2 GWh, representing 19.3% of the total, an increase of 13.5% year-over-year. In the LFP battery segment, market concentration among leading players further intensified. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) ranked first with 108.1 GWh installed, capturing a 39.1% market share—up 3.0 percentage points from the same period last year. FinDreams Battery came second with 59.2 GWh installed, but its volume declined by 13.8 GWh year-over-year, and its market share dropped by 8.5 percentage points. Eight companies, including Gotion High-Tech, achieved simultaneous growth in both installation volume and market share; among them, EVE Energy and REPT Battery each gained 1.3 percentage points in market share. Growth in the ternary battery market slowed, while concentration continued to rise. CATL dominated the domestic ternary battery market with 48.1 GWh installed, holding over 70% market share. LG Energy Solution benefited from partnerships with joint-venture and foreign automakers, increasing its installations by 2.3 GWh and gaining 2.7 percentage points in market share. FinDreams Battery and WeLion saw slight increases in both installation volume and market share, whereas most other manufacturers—including SVOLT—experienced declines in both metrics. Market leaders further solidified their advantages through superior customer resources and advanced technological capabilities. Looking ahead, the LFP battery market is expected to expand further in the second half of the year, driven by the launch of multiple affordable new energy vehicle models and growing energy storage demand, potentially leading to minor adjustments in vendor market shares. Meanwhile, the rollout of premium all-electric models will support demand for ternary batteries, though the trend toward high market concentration is unlikely to change.